I received, for some reason, an email from Grizzly, advertising some tools. I have heard of their name, but I have no experience with them.
Question is, are they legit'? Are they selling good-quality tools, or are they more on the Harbor-Freight junky level?
Grizzly was one of the first major importers of Asian made industrial tools, back when companies like Delta and Powermatic were still major manufacturers making tools in the USA.
Back then, the tools were known to be useable, but typically with somewhat cruder manufacture than tools from companies like Delta Powermatic, as well as other more expensive imports like Jet.
That said, Grizzly has gotten more “professional” quality tools in their lineup over the years.
In many cases, like Ikea, they have different quality ranges for different budgets and users. For instance, they have bench grinders from $65 to $1000+ with the more expensive options designed to compete with manufacturers like Baldor, although they also carry Baldor grinders.
The owner, Shiraz Balolia, is actually into woodworking and making stringed instruments, so the website has lots of Luthier supplies.
The owners brother from what I recall, owns Busy Bee Tools in Canada, which is the Canadian version of Grizzly.
Grizzly also carries lots of weird specialty tools, that might no longer be otherwise manufactured, or which might be obscenely expensive from the specialty manufacturers that still make similar equipment.(ie. out of the affordability of a non high end manufacturer)
Machinery made by high end European manufacturers like Felder would be higher quality, but in the price range, the Grizzly stuff is good.
